Charles W. Walton, former Teachers College professor, died on February 26th in Brooks Memorial Hospital, Dunkirk, N.Y. Walton earned his doctorate at TC in 1951, and then joined the faculty as a professor in 1961, later serving as Chairman of the Music Department from 1976 until he retired in 1982.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Walton was a 1938 graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music and obtained his master's degree from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He began his teaching career at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, followed by only six months at Mississippi State College for Women when he was called into the Navy during World War II. After basic training he was made a Chaplain's Assistant, playing the organ for the Hebrew, Catholic and Protestant Services in Bainbridge, Md., and Inyokern, Calif. After World War II was over, Walton enrolled at TC.

Among his many accomplishments, Walton authored "Music Literature for Study Analysis" and was co-author of Teachers Guides for the RCA Victor "Instruments of the Orchestra" and "Adventures in Music for Secondary School." He wrote numerous articles on musicianship and often served as speaker, consultant and clinician for workshops at school and colleges.

During this time he was organist-choir director at the Roseville Presbyterian Church in Newark, N.J., then organist-choir director at the Flatbush Dutch Reform Church in Brooklyn, where he served for 38 years until his retirement. After he moved to Fredonia in 1998 to be near his family, he served as organist-choir director at the Fredonia Baptist Church.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, March 28th in the First Baptist Church of Fredonia in New York.

Published Sunday, Sep. 12, 2004